Chelan County, WA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 7.40.020(11)
- Exempt rehabbers
- USFWS, WA Game Dept., humane society licensees
- Enforcing agency
- Chelan County animal control authority
- 1st offense penalty
- civil infraction up to $130
- 3rd offense penalty
- misdemeanor, up to 90 days/$1,000
Summary
In unincorporated Chelan County, the county's dangerous-wild-animal nuisance rule exempts anyone licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington State Game Department, or a humane society to rehabilitate wildlife from having to obtain the county's own certificate of registration for a potentially dangerous wild animal, while everyone else must register or risk a public-nuisance violation.
(11) Any potentially dangerous wild animal possessed by a person without a certificate of registration issued by the Chelan County animal control authority; except this section shall not apply to any person keeping or maintaining or having in his possession or under his control any animal defined in that section when such person is transporting such animal or reptile through Chelan County, provided he has taken adequate safeguards to protect the public, and has notified the sheriff of his proposed route of transportation of the time that such trip is to take place ... nor shall th ... is chapter apply to the following organizations: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State Game Department, any humane society, or a person licensed by these organizations to rehabilitate wildlife.
Full Breakdown
015 defines to include lions, tigers, bears, wolves, primates, elephants, rhinoceroses, and listed venomous or large reptile species, without a certificate of registration from the Chelan County animal control authority. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington State Game Department, any humane society, and any person those organizations license to rehabilitate wildlife. That means a state- or federally-permitted wildlife rehabilitator working in unincorporated Chelan County does not need the county's separate certificate for the animals in their care; the outside license covers it. 021, which demands a secure enclosure meeting detailed caging, signage, and housing standards for canids, felids, and bears, is committing a public nuisance. 030, with animal control able to give a 30-day notice to comply before removing a noncompliant animal at the owner's expense. 010.
Violations & Fines
Possessing a potentially dangerous wild animal without the county certificate, or without qualifying for the rehabilitator exemption, is enforceable as a public nuisance under Section 7.40.090: a first violation is a civil infraction up to $130, a second within five years up to $250, and a third within five years becomes a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, with restitution available to injured parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county permit to rehabilitate injured wildlife in unincorporated Chelan County?
What animals count as "potentially dangerous wild animals" under the exemption?
Who enforces the wild-animal rule if I don't have a rehab license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chelan County
Compare Chelan County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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